Tag: Chris Cooper

‘Little Women’ lands big

Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, and Florence Pugh in Little Women

“Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other.” – Carol Saline

Little Women is one property I have not had much exposure to. Prior to the 2019 film, my only experience with it was The March Sisters at Christmas. This version is certainly superior to that, and indeed better than Greta Gerwig’s previous directorial efforts.

Jo (Saoirse Ronan) is one of four daughters close in age. She is younger than Meg (Emma Watson) but older than Beth (Eliza Scanlen) and Amy (Florence Pugh). Each has her own interests and goals, which for the central figure of Jo is to read and write, eventually as a profession.

Switching back and forth between time periods of a seven-year gap – during the Civil War and after it – we see how they get by with their mother (Laura Dern). They live next to a wealthy boy (Timothée Chalamet) and his grandfather (Chris Cooper), who become quite close with the family. Then there’s the wealthy Aunt March (Meryl Streep), who makes visits here and there to berate their less than lavish conditions.

Also unlike past versions, the two younger girls are played by the same actresses in both time periods. This makes it a bit unclear whether the characters are meant to be aged up from the book or we really are supposed to see them as tweenagers. Because if it’s the latter, nope, not buying it. Amy has more dimension to her, coming across as greater than the bratty twerp that the character has a reputation of being. Going a long way towards achieving this is the performance from Pugh, who’s definitely the breakout actor in the bunch.

From what I can gather, the non-linear storytelling is wholly unique to this version. Due to the lack of multiple actors for the different ages, it can be a little confusing until you realize that it’s going on. For viewers familiar with the typical story layout, the rearrangement provides an interesting time in trying to predict where the pieces will fit. Despite the shake up, the story does not seem to be robbed of any thematic resonance nor anything appear conspicuously misplaced.

However, there’s a bizarre meta-narrative to it all. What’s described above are actually part of a fictional story from a framing scenario where Ronan is alternately pitching to a publisher (Tracy Letts) and working on it. I suppose that it’s meant to echo the trials that Louisa May Alcott went through to get her book out there, it’s just kind of unnecessary. Also, there are really strange bits where a character will speak in voiceover, then be shown talking directly to the camera. These doesn’t occur too frequently, but whenever they do, they’re really jarring and disruptive.

I’m not sure that this iteration will necessarily replace anyone’s favorite version for those who already have them, but Little Women 2019 is a worthy addition to the legacy. Now on to checking out the 2018 version, and then the 2017 one, then…

January 31, 2020
Ben Affleck’s ‘Live by Night’ dies long before the break of dawn

Ben Affleck in ‘Live by Night

“You can get further with a kind word and a gun than you can with just a kind word.” – Robert De Niro as Al Capone in The Untouchables

Live by Night is based on an award-winning novel by Dennis Lahane. Ben Affleck adapted that novel for the big screen and he is an Academy Award winner for Best Original Screenplay (he shared that award with Matt Damon). The last time he sat in the director’s chair was for Argo and that movie received the Oscar for Best Picture. Unfortunately, Live by Night doesn’t come close to living up to the promise that these things normally entail.

“Joe Coughlin” (Affleck) is the son of a high-ranking Boston police officer (Brendan Gleeson). Joe became an outlaw after serving in World War I because he never wanted to have to take orders again. He and his buddies knock off a card game in the back of a speakeasy owned by “Albert White” (Robert Glenister) aided by his “inside man”. That turns out to be “Emma Gould” (Sienna Miller) who also happens to be Albert’s girlfriend.

Ben Affleck and Chris Messina walk through Ybor City in ‘Live by Night’

“Maso Pescatore” (Remo Ginore) is the leader of an Italian mob gang that is locked in a struggle with Albert White’s gang for control of speakeasies and the rum supply in the area. Maso approaches Joe with a true Hobson’s Choice. Either side with Maso and help him get rid of Albert, or he will let Albert know that Joe and Emma are lovers. Joe refuses to join with Maso.

After a badly botched bank robbery, Joe is betrayed by Emma and is saved from a painful death when he is arrested for the bank robbery at just the right moment. After his release from prison he goes to see Maso and agrees to put the interests of the Pescatore family above his own so he can seek vengeance on Albert. Albert has been forced to flee to Miami. Maso sends Joe and Joe’s cohort “Dion” (Chris Messina) to Ybor City, a suburb of Tampa.

There Joe meets and eventually marries “Graciela” (Zoe Saldana) who is the sister of “Esteban Suarez” (Miguel) who Joe is doing business with. “RD Pruitt” (Matthew Maher), a member of the local KKK begins attacking Joe’s speakeasies in an effort to extort Joe. Joe uses graphic photos of “Loretta Figgis” (Elle Fanning) to force her father “Irving Figgis” (Chris Cooper) the Tampa Chief of Police to take care of RD once and for all.

Chris Messina and Ben Affleck going to hear Elle Fanning speak in that tent in ‘Live by Night’

By now Joe is planning for the future and convinces Maso of the genius of putting a casino into a new resort under construction, and using their influence to get gambling legalized. Loretta returns and begins a new life preaching the gospel, including putting a stop to the effort to make gambling legal. This will lead to a confrontation between Joe and Maso.

That is a lot of story for a 128 minute movie. That makes sense since the mass market paperback version of Dennis Lahane’s novel runs 576 pages. While the production values are very high and Affleck makes the most of the gorgeous scenic shots, the meat and potatoes of this movie are little more than a re-hashing of other, better movies about gangsters and prohibition.

Ben Affleck is a talented actor but it may be that he is one of those great directors who gets the most from the performances of others to the detriment of his own acting. It isn’t easy to balance both tasks and when you add the writing and producing to the load, it simply may have been too much for one man to take on. Even when; or perhaps especially when, he is also busy being the new Batman.

December 27, 2016
In ‘August: Osage County’ temperatures and tempers rise

The extended Weston family dining together in ‘August: Osage County’

“Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts.” – Anonymous

August: Osage County is all about family and the strong-willed women who keep them together, or tear them apart. Adapted by Tracy Letts from his own Pulitzer and Tony award winning play, it is the tale of the Weston family.

“Beverley Weston” (Sam Shepard) is the patriarch. He was once a poet of some renown but now spends his days drinking too much alcohol in an effort to ease the pain of what his life has become. He lives with his wife “Violet Weston” (Meryl Streep) who is addicted to prescription drugs, suffers from cancer of the mouth, won’t give up her cigarettes and has a tongue that’s been sharpened to razor-like perfection.

They have three daughters, two of whom no longer live in the rural area outside Pawhuska, OK. “Ivy” (Julianne Nicholson) still lives in the area and resents her sisters “Barbara” (Julia Roberts) and “Karen” (Juliette Lewis) for leaving her to care for their parents.

Julia Roberts, Julianne Nicholson and Juliette Lewis are the Weston sisters reunited in ‘August: Osage County’

Soon after Beverley has hired a Native American woman named “Johnna” (Misty Upham) as live-in cook and housekeeper, he disappears. Upon realizing he hasn’t returned, Violet phones her sister “Mattie Fae” (Martindale) and her daughters and they all show up. Mattie Fae brings her husband “Charles” (Chris Cooper) while Barbara brings her husband “Bill” (Ewen McGregor) and daughter “Jean” (Abigail Breslin). Karen has her new boyfriend “Steve” (Dermot Mulrooney) in tow. After a few days have passed, they learn that Beverley had drowned in the nearby lake.

Now there’s a funeral and the last player in this drama, “Little Charles” (Benedict Cumberbatch), son of Charles and Mattie Fae somehow manages to be late to his uncle’s funeral. After the funeral they sit down at the Weston home for a family dinner and things get out of hand. Violet has decided this is the right moment for her to do some “truth-telling”, managing to enrage just about everyone. She may be addled by her addiction, but she is quite perceptive. Each of the people sitting around the table with her has a secret and she has somehow divined most of them. It is the revelation of these secrets and how they impact relationships that provides the most interesting and compelling portion of the movie

Julia Roberts trying to cool down in a hot ‘August: Osage County’

It should come as no surprise that author Tracy Letts is a brilliant writer and actor. His mother, Billie Letts is a professor of writing at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and author of the award-winning novel “Where The Heart Is.” His father, Dennis Letts was a Fulbright Scholar who was also a professor of writing and English for most of his adult life, before becoming an actor. This is the third time that Tracy Letts has adapted one of his plays for the big screen and it’s wonderful.

Director John Wells does not have a lot of experience as a director, but more than a decade as showrunner and head writer for the television series ER probably helped. He certainly provided his cast with a landscape that allowed them to put every iota of talent they possess on the screen.

Like the other works from Tracy Letts, the film is more than a bit dark and yet evokes laughter. Don’t miss it.

January 28, 2014
‘October Sky – Special Edition’ is a surprisingly good movie thanks to Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Cooper

‘October Sky’

I remember when this film first came out back in 1998, I had little interest in seeing it. Couldn’t exactly tell you why, but I remember that the trailer really didn’t grab me. When I was offered the opportunity to review the film’s new “Special Edition” DVD released at the end of January, my wife urged me to agree to a review.

And after watching October Sky, I’m glad she did.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoy this film. I was moved by the relationship between Homer and his father, and thought the tale was inspiring. The fact that it is a true story makes it all the more wonderful.

The tale surrounds Homer Hickam, a high school senior who becomes awed by the sight of the Russian satellite, Sputnik, as it streaks over his home in the night sky. Suddenly filled with the desire to build a rocket, he enlists his two friends, and a nerdy outcast, to help him. Over the course of the school year, the boys get help from several people in their town.

Homer’s interest in rockets further damages his relationship with his father, the manager of the coal mine that employees the majority of the town. His father pressures Homer to take a job at the coal mine, but Homer constantly refuses, wanting nothing more than to get out of the town.

Failure after failure threaten to prevent the boys from attending a local science fair that holds the promise of college scholarships, but help from an unlikely source may make their dreams of life away from the mines come true.

This story is far from unique, but its grounding in truth helps make it original. Hollywood is chock full of inspirational stories about a man or woman who overcome the odds and leave their small town for fame and fortune. The difference here is that no one is looking to be famous, they just want a life better than working in the coal mines. It’s a more down-to-Earth mentality that is easily relatable and at the same time, feels more personal.

Virtually everything is done right here, from the direction to the acting to the writing. It’s a strong story with grounded performances and just enough realism to put you in the late 1950s. My only complaint would be the opening montage. The images of the miners and the town are good, but the fading in and out is sort of jarring.

I’ve only seen Jake Gyllenhaal in one other film, The Day After Tomorrow, but I thought he did a great job as Homer. He seemed comfortable in the role, but there was a moment or two were he didn’t really seem to be in the moment. Chris Cooper, however, delivers a perfect performance as his father. He’s a man who carries the world on his shoulders, at least the fate of the town, and struggles every day to keep it up and running. He fights the company to save jobs, and he fights the union to keep the mine operating. I think it’s probably safe to say that Cooper doesn’t do less than 100% when he agrees to take a role, and is undoubtedly one of our finest character actors.

What I really appreciated most about this new Special Edition DVD was the documentary, “Aiming High: The Story of the Rocket Boys”, which details the real men and women the film is based upon. There are interviews with the Rocket Boys, and each of them discuss their experiences and how their lives changed as a result of working on the rocket project.

Another great feature is the audio commentary by Homer Hickam, who wrote the book the film is based upon. He discusses the film, his book, and explores how the movie differs from reality. He doesn’t do it as a criticism, but as a terrific dissection of where a film my alter facts and compress events in order to tell an effective story.

One of the biggest issues I have with films based upon real events or people is how much they often alter the truth. The fact that the DVD helps sort out the truth from the fiction is just plain outstanding.

February 8, 2005